INTRODUCING: The Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Limited Edition

Zach Blass

The movement is obviously a huge aspect of any timepiece and something you should look into at length. It is, after all, the heart of a watch and what makes it, quite literally, tick. But I think, if we are all being honest about what draws us to a particular watch, the external looks that are the biggest factor of all. This is where Hublot is an absolute industry leader, fully living up to their motto “the art of fusion”. Hublot as a brand is very bold with the materials they use, mastering a variety of case mediums to create beautiful and distinctive watches that can irrefutably be distinguished as Hublot from across the room. Their most recent release, a limited edition of 200 pieces, showcases their craftsmanship with aluminum – a lightweight and robust material perfect for daily wear. Just in time for summer in the northern hemisphere, the new Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Limited Edition brings turquoise back with a bang.

As is usually the case with Hublot, the aluminum case of the Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer is not your run of the mill colour scheme. Its 42mm anodized aluminum case, 14.5mm thick, is rendered in a Tiffany-like hue, satin brushed and mirror polished to create added flair and elegance through contrasting finishes. While a chronograph, the case is 100 metres water-resistant – a desirable specification considering this is meant to be the ultimate summer watch. The anodization that the aluminum case goes under not only helps it achieve its unique shade, but also further protects the metal against scratches and blemishes.

The skeletonized dial reveals a city of gears framed by matte turquoise accents that match the case. The largest portion of colour is the running seconds register at three, a disc of matte turquoise with a small aperture gap to frame the grey on white date disc. At 9 o’clock, an open-worked elapsed minutes register is seen – its function tied to the column wheel chronograph movement. A narrow minutes track disc runs around the circumference of the dial and serves as one anchor of a bridge that holds the hour numerals and indexes just above the movement. The central hands, hour indexes, and hour numerals are filled with SuperLuminova® to ensure visibility during summer evening festivities. One interesting quirk of the movement is that column wheel and double clutch mechanism are visible from the dial side. This means you can really see the chronograph engage and disengage without having to remove the watch from your wrist.

There are two straps bundled in with the Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer, each featuring the brand’s patented “One Click” interchangeable strap system. The two straps are executed in the same radiant turquoise: one velcro strap with matching stitching and one natural rubber strap.

The velcro strap is outfitted with a sports buckle, while the rubber strap is paired with a deployant clasp. Both are made from case-matching turquoise anodised aluminium, with the Hublot logo engraved and lacquered in white.

While I applaud the externals of the watch, let’s be clear: the movement inside the Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer is also the real deal. Framed within the titanium ring of the exhibition caseback is the Hublot in-house caliber HUB1280 Unico, an automatic column wheel chronograph movement with a clean and industrial brushed finish and polished bevels throughout. The 72-hour power reserve caliber provides crisp and butter-smooth start/stop/reset actuation. Speaking of reset, the chronograph features a flyback complication that means you can reset the chronograph without needing to stop it first. The winding rotor is openworked so that you may view as much of the movement as possible beneath.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Limited Edition pricing and availability:

According to Hublot: “Just 200 of these unisex pieces are being released, initially available on the e-commerce site and in the Mediterranean boutiques in Capri, Forte dei Marmi, Mykonos, Ibiza, Bodrum, Saint-Tropez and Monaco.”

For more information on the availability of the Hublot Big Bang Unico Summer Limited Edition we recommend checking out their e-commerce platform, or consulting your local Hublot boutique / authorized dealer. Price: $20,900 USD